TOLEDO—For the past year, 12-year old Robert Harris has lived on the first floor of his family’s two-story home on Lewis Avenue. Robert, who has muscular dystrophy, used to ride a lift up to the second floor and the only bathroom in the house. But a broken femur from a fall in November 2010 and declining health have made these trips impossible.

Since that time, Robert has been restricted to the first floor, receiving only sponge baths and lacking access to a bathroom. His parents, Mark and Suzanne, use a sling to move him from his wheelchair onto his bed in the living room.

On Dec. 2, with the help of Swanton St. Richard parishioners, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity began modifying the Harris’ back porch to provide a fully accessible bathroom with shower, sink and commode for Robert.

This addition, provided through Habitat’s Home Repair Ministry, is providing a life-changing improvement for the family of four and giving Robert a little more independence while also enhancing his living conditions.

In addition to St. Richard, others sponsoring the project are St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Maumee, The Scheidel Foundation, truenorth Holdings Inc. and individuals. Volunteers from these organizations along with Maumee Valley Habitat staff and volunteers and the Harris family and friends are constructing the bathroom interior.

“This project is not only exciting because it so clearly meets Robert’s need for a living condition that most of us take for granted, but because it is bringing together church communities and neighborhood residents to positively impact the Harris family,” says Michael McIntyre, executive director of Maumee Valley Habitat. “During this holiday season, it’s a good reminder of the blessings we have that we can share to transform lives.”

Home Repair Ministry is part of Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI). The goals of NRI are to stabilize and improve neighborhood perceptions, property values and community organization.

One of the areas where Maumee Valley Habitat is focusing its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative is the Library Village neighborhood where the Harris family lives. Since last spring, four Home Repair Ministry projects have been completed and a rehab of a vacant home is ongoing. Many more repair and rehab projects are planned for the neighborhood.

Those interested in learning more about Maumee Valley Habitat’s homeowner and repair programs can contact the office at 419-382-1964 or visit www.mvhabitat.org.